Euro-MPs change rules to prevent Le Pen from presiding over

[MikeWB]

Euro-MPs change rules to prevent Le Pen from presiding over first session of new parliament


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... AGkXubzDyA

MEPs snub Le Pen with rule change

6 May 2009

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/99404

Euro-MPs have changed their rules to prevent French far-right politician Jean Marie Le Pen from presiding over the first session of the newly-elected European Parliament in July.

Socialist MEPs acted because if Mr Le Pen, 80, is returned in June's European election he will be the oldest MEP and therefore asked to open the ceremonial inaugural meeting.

Under new rules approved on Wednesday, the outgoing President of Parliament, instead of the oldest member, will perform the opening ceremony at the start of the new five-year term on July 14 in Strasbourg.

The rule change split MEPs down the middle, with some determined to deny Mr Le Pen a platform, and others insisting that, as a democratically-elected MEP, the French National Front leader was entitled to follow tradition.

UK Labour MEP Richard Corbett welcomed the result: "I am relieved that Mr Le Pen will not be opening the Parliament in the next term."

He said Le Pen had abused his Parliamentary immunity last month by repeating remarks that saw him convicted for Holocaust denial.

Mr Le Pen was fined £190,000 for holocaust denial in 1987.

Mr Corbett added: "As recently as March, Le Pen abused his position as an MEP by repeating disgusting statements that the gas chambers were a mere detail of history, knowing that he was protected by parliamentary privilege.

"This is not about silencing dissent - a rule change isn't going to shut Le Pen up. The point is that the opening of Parliament is a purely ceremonial occasion, not a free platform for a convicted Holocaust denier to make more outrageous and offensive statements."

But Graham Watson, Liberal leader in the European Parliament, said there was no justification for treating Mr Le Pen differently from other elected MEPs "even if we hate his politics".

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